Citadelle Reserve Gin 750ML

Citadelle Reserve Gin 750ML is a solera-aged French gin bottled at 44% ABV (88 proof), recognized as the world's first gin matured through the solera process. It earned 94 points from Wine Enthusiast and a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, establishing it as one of the most critically acclaimed aged gins on the market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 44%  |  Origin: Cognac, France  |  Solera Aged  |  Distillery: Maison Ferrand

Production & Heritage

Citadelle Reserve is produced by Maison Ferrand in the Cognac region of France, a house with deep roots in brandy production. The wheat-based spirit undergoes triple distillation through a column still before a final distillation in a small 200-liter cognac copper pot still heated by naked flame — the same method used for the house's eaux-de-vie. What truly distinguishes this expression is its aging: the gin cascades through a solera system using three different types of wood casks, a technique traditionally reserved for cognac, port, and sherry. No cask in the solera is ever fully emptied, meaning each bottle contains a blend of gins from multiple fills, building layers of complexity over time.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dried spices and cardamom open the nose alongside aniseed and coconut shell. A second pass reveals juniper berry, green tea, tobacco leaf, and a thread of orange blossom, with gentle vanilla and bittersweet oak from the cask influence.

Taste: The entry is silky and abundant, immediately distinguishing itself from unaged gins with a soft, sweet quality and hints of grapefruit peel. The mid-palate builds with pink peppercorn zing, ginger, lemon zest, and almond, layered over cedar, fresh herbs, lavender, and rosemary. Medium-bodied and notably complex, the oak influence adds structure without masking the botanical core.

Finish: The finish is warm and lingering, with dried tobacco and a gentle spice that trails into soft wood tannins. Juniper reasserts itself at the very end, grounding the spirit in its gin identity.

How to Drink Citadelle Reserve

Neat or with a single large ice cube is the ideal starting point — the solera aging rewards slow sipping, and the texture at 44% ABV needs no dilution to feel approachable. This gin also performs exceptionally in cocktails that benefit from barrel-aged complexity:

• Negroni: The oak-influenced sweetness and cedar spice stand up to Campari and sweet vermouth without being overwhelmed.
• Martinez: The vanilla and dried-spice character complements maraschino liqueur and sweet vermouth in this classic precursor to the Martini.
• French 75: The grapefruit peel and ginger notes add depth when paired with fresh lemon and champagne.

Best For

• Gifting a gin enthusiast who has explored London Drys and wants something singular
• After-dinner sipping alongside dessert or a cigar
• Expanding a home bar with an aged gin that doubles as a cocktail workhorse
• Side-by-side tasting with Citadelle Original to explore how solera aging transforms a botanical profile

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Citadelle Reserve taste like? Citadelle Reserve delivers a silky, medium-bodied gin with prominent dried spice, cedar, grapefruit peel, ginger, and gentle vanilla from solera cask aging. Juniper remains present but is woven into a broader tapestry of oak, lavender, and almond rather than dominating the palate.

How does Citadelle Reserve compare to Plymouth Gin? Plymouth Gin is an unaged, earthier style bottled at 41.2% ABV, while Citadelle Reserve is cask-rested in a solera system and bottled at a slightly higher 44% ABV, giving it more body and oak-driven complexity. Some gin drinkers have noted that Citadelle Reserve's depth and smoothness can rival Plymouth as an everyday sipper, though the flavor profiles are fundamentally different.

Is Citadelle Reserve good for sipping neat? Yes — the solera aging process softens the spirit and adds layers of vanilla, cedar, and dried tobacco that reward slow, contemplative sipping. At 44% ABV, it sits comfortably on the palate without excessive heat.

Where is Citadelle Reserve made? Citadelle Reserve is distilled by Maison Ferrand in the Cognac region of France. The distillery uses traditional cognac copper pot stills and applies the solera aging method typically associated with the region's brandy production.

What foods pair well with Citadelle Reserve? Smoked salmon benefits from the gin's citrus peel and herbal character. Aged cheeses like Comté or Gruyère complement the oak and vanilla notes. Dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage mirrors the dried spice and tobacco undertones. Grilled white-fleshed fish with a citrus beurre blanc echoes the grapefruit and ginger. Charcuterie boards with cured meats and cornichons play well against the juniper and pepper.

What sizes does Citadelle Reserve come in? Citadelle Reserve is commonly available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Citadelle Reserve worth the price? Citadelle Reserve positions as a premium aged gin with very few direct competitors in the solera-aged category. Its 94-point rating from Wine Enthusiast and Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition suggest strong value relative to other high-scoring, barrel-influenced gins.

Why Citadelle Reserve?

The solera aging method is the defining feature here — no other gin producer pioneered this technique, and the cascading cask system creates a depth and consistency that single-barrel aging cannot replicate. Backed by Maison Ferrand's expertise in cognac production, the distillation in small copper pot stills with naked flame extracts botanicals with a precision that translates directly into the glass. A 94-point score from Wine Enthusiast and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirm that this is not a novelty but a seriously regarded spirit. For drinkers looking beyond conventional London Drys into a category where gin meets the nuance of aged spirits, Citadelle Reserve occupies a space almost entirely its own.